Subject - Science

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Science | Lesson ideas

Science


Almost every scientific investigation or experiment is likely to require one or more of the mathematical skills of measuring, classifying, counting, calculating, estimating, and recording in tables and graphs. In science, pupils will, for example, order numbers, including decimals, calculate simple means and percentages, use negative numbers when taking temperatures, decide whether it is more appropriate to use a line graph or bar chart, and plot, interpret and predict from graphs.

Since recent curriculum changes, the ability to manipulate, interpret and draw conclusions from data has never been more important - the data handling flowchart forms the basis for scientific investigation. In A level, we have to perform statistical tests such as chi squared, standard deviation, standard error, spearman's rank correlation. Physics is a very maths heavy subject with formula interpretation essential. Chemistry involves a lot of chemical formula calculations.

Mathematics is the foundation of subject knowledge for a science teacher so assessment of the 'Teaching' category underpins numeracy in lesson observations. Often it is enough to draw explicit attention to the numeracy elements of lessons. It is vital to replicate common mathematical conventions and highlight the application element of numeracy concepts in Science lesson.

Lesson ideas

  • Use formulae to calculate work, power, mass, density
  • Use graphs to represent data, interpretation of graphs = tally charts, scatter graphs (including lines of best fit), line graphs
  • Interpretation of data in context including estimation and accuracy
  • Interpretation of graphs including interpolation and extrapolation
  • Planning and hypothesising
  • Use standard measures to find length, mass, time, force, temperature, area or capacity;
  • Manipulate numerical data from their experiments and do calculations;
  • Use mathematical symbols and notation - substitution into formulae and rearranging formulae, indices, standard form
  • Take readings from scales and using axes correctly
  • Direct link between chemical equations and algebraic equations
  • Mole calculations relating to standard form
  • Use of calculators including memory
  • Percentages and ratio
Science | Lesson ideas
This wiki contains ideas to help you develop numeracy in your lessons and across the school. Some of the ideas presented are taken from some excellent numeracy across the curriculum documents produced by Deptford Green School, the Friary School, Leicestershire Numeracy team, All Saints CCFL School, and the Kent Advisory Service (curriculum support in mathematics) amongst others. Please take the time to visit the Resources page to take a look at these documents and the associated weblinks in the Useful Links page (2 really useful ones are the Maths Zone and Suffolk Maths and a good blog post from @numberloving here). Other ideas are developed by teachers/educators who have contributed directly or indirectly to this wiki.